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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took to the House floor about 6:30 p.m. to say, 'Today we will pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act … We will make history. We will also make progress for America's working families.'
AP Photo

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POLITICO 44

Hours before an expected vote on a sweeping health care bill, House Democrats believe they've secured the 218 votes they need to approve the bill, several party insiders said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took to the House floor about 6:30 p.m. to say, “Today we will pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act… We will make history. We will also make progress for America's working families."

In response to a question about whether the bill would pass when she brought it up, Pelosi told reporters Saturday night, "That is our expectation."

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), also on the House floor, called the requirement that individuals purchase insure "the most unconsitutional thing I've seen in my life."

Thirty-four Democrats have publicly declared their opposition to the bill, giving party leaders the narrowest possible margin to push the bill across the finish line. But numerous sources said Democrats believe they do have the votes after a day of intense lobbying of wavering Democrats.

Only one Republican is expected to break ranks and vote yes on the bill, Louisiana Rep. Joseph Cao, who represents a heavily Democratic New Orleans-area previously occupied by indicted former Rep. William Jefferson.

Votes have a tendency to shift in the final hours before a controversial vote, but Democratic leaders were expressing more genuine confidence as the sun set over the Capitol than they had exhibited all week. Word started spreading around 5 p.m. that leaders had the votes they needed to pass the $1.2 trillion bill.

Pelosi had all but predicted passage of a House health reform bill earlier Saturday, following an emotional appeal from President Barack Obama to fellow Democrats urging them to “answer the call of history” and vote yes.

But she and her top lieutenants earlier stopped short of saying they had the 218 votes needed for passage – signaling a day of vote-wrangling and arm-twisting that has stretched into Saturday night.

The stakes for Obama and Pelosi are high – and Obama has made health care his signature legislative priority this year. But vulnerable Democrats’ concerns about of backing the $1.2 trillion measure increased after Tuesday’s Democratic election washout and Friday’s unemployment rate showed unemployment rising above 10 percent for the time in a generation.

Obama urged Democrats not to pass up the chance to make history.

“Now’s the time to finish the job,” Obama said in the Rose Garden, following a 30-minute closed-door meeting with the House Democratic caucus on Capitol Hill.

“I reminded them that opportunities like this come around maybe once in a generation,” Obama said. “This is their moment, this is our moment, to live up to the trust that the American people have placed in us — even when it's hard; especially when it's hard. This is our moment to deliver.”

In his last-minute appeal in the Cannon House Office Building, Obama steered clear of legislative details to focus on the historic impact of the vote, comparing this reform push to the establishment of Social Security and Medicare – and reminding Democrats that both were criticized by those who predicted they would eventually lead to the country's collapse.

Obama also reminded them that voting no on the health care bill wouldn’t insulate them from Republican attacks anyway.

“Are we going to stop now, or push forward?” Obama asked.

“Push forward,” a dozen or so Democrats shouted back.

Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) said he thought Obama may have shifted some undecided Democrats into the "yes" column. "I think there were a number of folks in there moved by what [Obama] said, no question about it," Crowley said.

Ahead of Obama’s visit, House leaders won the backing of the nation’s Catholic bishops for a last-minute abortion compromise, a critical boost that could give the health reform bill enough momentum – and enough votes – for passage Saturday.

"Democratic leaders decided early Saturday morning to let Stupak have a floor vote on his proposal..."

It's so generous of Pelosi to agree to actually let the House vote on something she doesn't agree with. If this were not such a serious issue for our nation it would be rather entertaining. It's fun watching Pelosi and Obama squirm with their political careers on the line.

Join the fight to take back America from an out of control government at www.GrassRootsNation.com.

Paying for abortions is only one of the problems with this destruction of the USA government rationed no-health care bill. There is a need for health care REFORM but not DESTRUCTION of our health care as pukelosi' s bill calls for. pukelosi totally hates this country after her and her family have raped our countyry for every nickle they can get out of it and now they want to destroy our country. NEVER BUY STAR KIST TUNA AGAIN. Pukelosi wants to destroy us, let's see how much damage we can do to her. Pelosi's husband owns $17 MILLION in Starkist stock.

Starkist's operations are in American Samoa, Starkist headquarters are in Pelosi's home district.

Pelosi abused her position in Congress to prevent America Samoans from receiving the raise in minimum hourly wage - as a means to not have Starkist's profit margin affected -

which should be a criminal offense - besides Influence Peddling - when legislation is passed to benefit a member of Congress - or a family member owns stock in a company.

Pelosi directly benefits from her husband's stock ownership - and therefore directly benefits from her goal - in EXEMPTING American Samoa - from the hike in minimum hourly wage - that all other Americans had acquired.

American Samoans make up 75% of Starkist's workforce in America Samoa.

Paul Pelosi, husband of Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif), is now the owner of a professional football team. The famously publicity-shy spouse of the current Speaker of the House bought the California Redwoods, a San Francisco-based franchise in the upstart United Football League.

PELOSI: Buy a $15,000 Policy or Go to Jail; Failure to Comply, 5 Years in Prison... Final vote could be delayed Sunday or beyond...

Ummmm kind of the whole reason we threw off the king and FOUGHT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR!!!!

America does not have debtors prison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello FBI, how are these people still walking around free? Pelosi, Reid

They are attempting to overthrow our republic form of government!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where the Hell place are we living anyway? Africa -NO Cuba - NO

James Madison, in Federalist, number 57, has some words highly relevant to the Pelosi health care reform bill:

"If it be asked, what is to restrain the house of representatives from making legal discriminations in favour of themselves, and a particular class of society? I answer, the genius of the whole system; the nature of just and constitutional laws; and, above all, the vigilant and manly spirit which actuates the people of America; a spirit which nourishes freedom, and in return is nourished by it.

If this spirit ever be so far debased, as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the legislature, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate any thing but liberty."

Given the fact that the currently pending health care reform bill does not obligate the members of Congress to have their medical well-being covered by it, it is as if Madison himself is rising from the grave and is pointing his finger at us accusingly and asking us whether we will meekly and timidly allow the liberty which he, the Founding Fathers and all our other ancestors worked so hard to secure to be taken from us quietly and seamlessly in a simple vote on the floor of the House of Representatives?

Are the people of America still actuated by a vigilant spirit of freedom? Does it still beat in the hearts of its citizens? These are the questions which each citizen must pose him or herself and answer with the firmness of the American spirit of liberty. If we do not, then surely we are prepared to tolerate tyranny.

Your going to need more prisons then because WE A'INT GOING TO DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pay for the healthcare of millions of Americans who have chosen welfare as a career or GO TO JAIL!!!!! Is this still America I live in....or, did I wake up in some alternate reality. This is America's worst NIGHTMARE.

This administration should be concentrating of creating J O B S.........instead, almost everything they are proposing will cost us jobs.

Unemployment is 10.2%......and if adjusted for those that have quit looking for a job it's probably double that. That represents over 16,000,000 American families that are just trying to survive. And, all this administration wants to do is push their social agenda projects which will place further burden on the economy.

But, as we all know, this not about what's best for America.....this is all about government's control over the people. When will you decide it's time to do something about it.....maybe, when you wake-up and realize that you are working 5 days a week just to support those that don't work and don't pay taxes. Or, maybe it will take a "Knock-on-the-door" by the government police coming to arrest you for non-compliance to the new order.

This proves it! The democrats have been taken over by Marxist communists!

Fines, and imprisonment for not having approved coverage?

Picture this Americans. You lose your job because the stupid democrat in office is killing our country. Your unemployment is not enough to live on much less pay your bills. Then you are supposed to pay for insurance too. You cannot afford it, so you don't buy it.

Now at tax time, not only do you owe taxes on the unemployment income you made, but you owe fines for not having health insurance. You cannot afford to pay! So now you have no job, no money, and you go to prison for not having health insurance. OH, and your spouce goes too because if you joint file, you BOTH GO TO PRISON!

These people have gone around the bend into commie lala land! They should be immediatly arrested and put in prison themselves!

It is unconstitutional on more levels than I can write here. Here is just one.

James Madison and the Pelosi health care bill Patrick Jakeway

James Madison, in Federalist, number 57, has some words highly relevant to the Pelosi health care reform bill:

"If it be asked, what is to restrain the house of representatives from making legal discriminations in favour of themselves, and a particular class of society? I answer, the genius of the whole system; the nature of just and constitutional laws; and, above all, the vigilant and manly spirit which actuates the people of America; a spirit which nourishes freedom, and in return is nourished by it.

If this spirit ever be so far debased, as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the legislature, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate any thing but liberty."

Given the fact that the currently pending health care reform bill does not obligate the members of Congress to have their medical well-being covered by it, it is as if Madison himself is rising from the grave and is pointing his finger at us accusingly and asking us whether we will meekly and timidly allow the liberty which he, the Founding Fathers and all our other ancestors worked so hard to secure to be taken from us quietly and seamlessly in a simple vote on the floor of the House of Representatives?

Are the people of America still actuated by a vigilant spirit of freedom? Does it still beat in the hearts of its citizens? These are the questions which each citizen must pose him or herself and answer with the firmness of the American spirit of liberty. If we do not, then surely we are prepared to tolerate tyranny.

These moran democrats want to insure 17 million illegals and make the rest of us unemployed, bankrupt and dependant on a bankrupt government. The last thing we need to do is fire them from Congress, maybe even try them for treason for what they have will do before the Chinese own us. They ignore the wishes of the American people and should pay the price.

The same conservative Democrats and the crazy Republicans who complain about government bureaucrats making decisions about our healthcare are more than happy to stick their noses into what is one of the most painful decisions a woman must make with her physician. Too bad that woman may not have the opportunity to make that choice if these hypocrites get their way.

JCT Confirms Failure to Comply with Democrats’ Mandate Can Lead to 5 Years in Jail

Friday, November 06, 2009

Today, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail. The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage” and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.